The Clendenin Ski Method^™ : Skills Inventory

definition of terms

This article is an excerpt from The Clendenin Ski Method^©: Four Words^™ for Great Skiing. While the complete book examines the art of all mountain and mogul skiing in greater depth than we can on the site, here are, in abridged form, key concepts to help any level 6 or higher skier improve performance, along with simple exercises that help skiers develop necessary skills to tame the bumps. Principal among these is the skill necessary to manage, as opposed to maximize, speed in bumps.

 

"John has style for days. He is legendary not just for winning Freestyle competitions at the height of the sport, but for doing it with style and charisma. Of course, he has just gotten better with time.

"I skied with him in the movie Fistful of Moguls, among other times, and he was ripping. He is so smooth. He has mastered the art of effortless skiing. His technique through the moguls is buttery smooth and efficient.

"I have seen him tirelessly develop The Clendenin Ski Method™ to help everyone else learn to ski effortlessly forever and he has it down pat. I'm stoked to see him taking it to the next level. Go John. You're the man!"

Jonny Moseley, May 2005

In all sports, joy is achieved through mastery of fundamedntals. Solid fundamentals creat efficient movements that evolve into instinctive movements. As the knowing and doing become one, the joy begins. The Clendenin Ski Method is dedicated to this journey.

John Clendenin, November 2004

The Starting Point

	We're going to examine the often misunderstood art and science of mogul skiing. In a sense, bumps skiing is at the very heart of all mountain skiing, not only because bumps can be found anywhere good skiers go and grooming machinery does not, but because the skills involved in controlled, pro-active mogul skiing are the skills that open access to all three-dimensional skiing, from steeps to deeps.
	Let's start with a skills inventory. This is patterned after a process we use at Clendenin Ski Method Camps in Aspen, where we have found that honest assessment of current skill level, understandings and attitudes is mandatory for rapid progress.
	There are no "right" or "wrong" answers, but by taking an honest inventory, you begin the process of mastering moguls and the all mountain experience.
Mogul Skills Inventory I can ski fast on blue runs, get down blacks, but get thrown around in bumps. When in bumps, I can make two or three turns but then gain too much speed. I'm not sure what to do with my poles in bumps. The way I ski bumps is a different than the way I ski groomed runs. Sometimes I get caught in a traverse across the bumps and it feels like I'm riding a wild pony. I don't know whether or not I stem my turns in bumps. I know the difference between stem and parallel turn entry, but have trouble with parallel entry in the bumps. I feel OK in moderate bumps, but not when it gets steeper. I like to warm up with a fast run. Sometimes I have to hop to get over bumps. I try to use my edges to control speed. I use my pole plant to turn. I enjoy all-mountain skiing, but also play with technique basics on groomed terrain. I eat bumps for breakfast! I love to watch good skiers ski.
For an analysis of the skills inventroy, along with 9 more articles on the "how to" of skiing bumps, we recommend subscribing to realskiers and we highly recommend John's book The Clendenin Ski Method.